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The Tennis Thread

ralvy

AVB my love
Jun 26, 2012
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The youngest player since Borg to win a grand slam after being 0-2 down.

Will be really interesting going forward. Djokovic have still won 3 of the last 5 slams but when the decline happens it can go really fast. Alcaraz have been brilliant to win two GS at his age, but has not reached his highest level since Wimbledon last season. Sinner has taken the next step and proven himself. Zverev seems to be fully back from his serious injury and Medvedev is a title challenger for every tournament on hard court.

Add the Olympics in the middle of a busy grand slam season, and Nadal trying to squeeze the last bit out of his body and we have a really interesting tennis season ahead.

Yeah, last season was really interesting because of the Djokovic-Alcaraz rivalry (which was a bit reminiscent to the Nadal-Djokovic rivalry), and then at the end of the season it got even more interesting due to the coming of age of Sinner and his rivalry with Medvedev/Djokovic.

But, as you said, this season has all the ingredients to become even more special. Sinner just delivered Djokovic a huge blow, but so did Alcaraz last year at Wimbledon and that only made him become even more determined to prove himself (yet again). Will the greatest champion of all times still have enough left in the tank to stand his ground against this new next-gen of players for a second season straight (this season maybe with the help of Rafa as well) or will he finally be run over by their youth and vibrancy?
 

aliyid

Well-Known Member
Dec 28, 2004
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This is shocking, wouldn’t be happy with this at club level never mind for an ATP250 event :wideyed:

 

ralvy

AVB my love
Jun 26, 2012
2,505
4,603
This is shocking, wouldn’t be happy with this at club level never mind for an ATP250 event :wideyed:



Shit, I even felt a bit frustrated just watching that. Santiago is a city I love, I know they can do better than that.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,338
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So; we're half way through March, and no tournament wins yet this year for Djokovic. Is he fading? Or will he come storming back to win the French?
 

aliyid

Well-Known Member
Dec 28, 2004
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So; we're half way through March, and no tournament wins yet this year for Djokovic. Is he fading? Or will he come storming back to win the French?
He's rattled, we always say at the top end of the game mental strength is what separates the good from the great and this is the one area that elevates him above the rest but we're finally starting to see some cracks.

No doubt he'll still be one of the favourites for RG but a lot will depend on the form of Alcaraz at that point in time.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
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Can't believe Djokovic had the audacity to complain about this. It's absolutely nothing.
 

ralvy

AVB my love
Jun 26, 2012
2,505
4,603


Can't believe Djokovic had the audacity to complain about this. It's absolutely nothing.


I believe that was more of a sign that he wasn't all that focused on this tournament (or maybe tennis in general these days). Perhaps he's feeling a bit depressed or something, carrying the weight of being the last man standing of the old guard (Federer already retired, Nadal almost there as well, Murray and Wawrinka not being able to make it far into any tournaments anymore). it wouldn't surprise me if he's going through some type of existential crisis.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,338
54,974
Only just seen that Djokovic has pulled out of Miami to concentrate on the majors. Interesting, and no doubt he knows what he's doing, but it takes a while to get match tight so he needs to be careful if he wants to peak at the right time. Or is it a prelude to calling it a day along with Rafa, Rog (and Andy)? He must want an Olympic gold, I'd have thought ...
 

aliyid

Well-Known Member
Dec 28, 2004
6,944
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Only just seen that Djokovic has pulled out of Miami to concentrate on the majors. Interesting, and no doubt he knows what he's doing, but it takes a while to get match tight so he needs to be careful if he wants to peak at the right time. Or is it a prelude to calling it a day along with Rafa, Rog (and Andy)? He must want an Olympic gold, I'd have thought ...
My view is that he's just prioritising Slams over ranking points. Continued appearances in the masters series events will just add to a feeling that his level is on the decline and it'll allow opponents to have extra belief that they can beat him as they'll have seen him lose to players X, Y & Z.

He's still tough to beat over 5 sets. He knows he's not got many left so wants to make sure he gives himself the best chance possible. May see him play a couple if he wants competitive practice ahead of RG due to it being on clay
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,338
54,974
My view is that he's just prioritising Slams over ranking points. Continued appearances in the masters series events will just add to a feeling that his level is on the decline and it'll allow opponents to have extra belief that they can beat him as they'll have seen him lose to players X, Y & Z.

He's still tough to beat over 5 sets. He knows he's not got many left so wants to make sure he gives himself the best chance possible. May see him play a couple if he wants competitive practice ahead of RG due to it being on clay

I think he has to, especially for clay. Probably play two out of Monte Carlo, Madrid & Rome unless he goes for a 500 with fewer main rivals in it. It'll be interesting to see.
 

aliyid

Well-Known Member
Dec 28, 2004
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Scary scenes in the Murray Berrettini match where Berrettini nearly passes out in the 2nd set.

Dr called out and went on to hold serve to love but didn’t look like he’d be able to continue. Must be some good stuff in those gel packs they eat to get sugar levels up again
 
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